Sheriff: Charlotte man charged deputy with knife before shooting

ENGLEWOOD, Fla. A former Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was shot during a domestic incident on Saturday was “tased” before charging at a deputy with a knife, Sheriff Bill Prummell said Monday.

The incident was the second in less than a month where a Charlotte County deputy shot someone during a domestic disturbance.

Casey Roberts, 36, initially cooperated with deputies Eric Knapp and Brooke Dooley when they arrived at a home on the 6400 block of Hamlet Drive at about 8:30 p.m., Prummell said. Roberts came out with his hands raised, but then went back into the residence, returned with a knife and attempted to cut himself, he said.

Dooley, who joined the department eight months ago, tried to “tase” Roberts. One prong hit Roberts but the other missed, Prummell said.

Enraged, Roberts charged at Knapp, a 11-year veteran, Prummell said.

Knapp, while backing away, instructed Roberts to put down the knife, Prummell said. Disobeying Knapp’s commands, Roberts was shot in the upper right thigh by Knapp from about 6 feet away, Purmmell said.

Knapp knew Roberts, Prummell said.

Deputies have responded to Roberts’ home multiple times for domestic disturbances, said Prummell, who added that Roberts also had three DUIs.

Roberts is accused of head-butting his wife and hitting his 4-year-old daughter with a phone, Prummell said. He faces charges of domestic battery and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.

Dooley and Knapp were placed on administrative leave, which is standard in law enforcement-involved shootings.

Roberts joined the sheriff’s office in 2002 as a clerk and was promoted to deputy in 2004 before leaving in 2008 due to a medical injury, Prummell said.